Brochures

A brochure developed to assist companies to reuse and recycle more end-of-life wood pallets and crates and answer some concerns about the sterilisation, fumigation and immunisation methods used to prevent the spread of pests and diseases into and around Australia.

These two Recycled Timber Interim Industry Standards have been prepared by Timber Queensland with input and development from stakeholders, including industry associations, representatives of the recycled timber industry, government, researchers and specifiers.
It is intended that these interim standards will be apllied and used for a period of time after which they will be reviewed and amended as needed prior to being submiteed to Standards Australia for consideration for developments as a formal Australian Standard.

A protocol developed to assist infrastructure managers and timber recyclers to recovery and recycle more redundant wood utility poles and timber from the demolition of road and rail bridges in New South Wales.

Occupational Health and Safety

When reusing and recycling wood the same precautions need to be taken as those taken when working with new wood. This brochure has been prepared by the Australian Wood Panels Association to assist companies and individuals manage OH&S issues.

A study to qualify and to some extent quantify the timber waste stream as occurs from demolition of housing, stripout and industrial building demolition. Assists in better understanding where timber demolition waste comes from, goes to and actions that can be taken to divert more timber away from landfill.

A review of international extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiatives and assess their applicability to product stewardship of waste timber in Australia. The report discusses the background to producer responsibility, different interpretations that apply in different parts of the world and the current status of EPR programs.

Studies

It is estimated that 290,000 tonnes of wood pallets and crates are disposed of around Australia each year. This study,
completed in 2008, characterised this distinct waste stream to assist further increases in recovery for reuse, recycling
and renewable energy. Representative sampling was done on over 6,600 cubic metres of stockpiled wood packaging at nine
sites in three states. A range of characteristics such as density, dimensions, source and markings where recorded. Samples
were also analysed for the presence of timber preservatives.

This study aims to provide a review of guidelines and make recommendations of appropriate allowable levels of preservatives in products from wood waste, referenced against major end use classes and dominant timber treatments. In addition, the project highlights the discrepancies between mandated exposure limits for the chemical constituents and the recycling industry guidelines and the risks associated with the recommended concentration limits of the commercially used preservatives in wood recycling applications.